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By Jenna FryerAssociated Press • Thursday August 28, 2014 5:14 PM

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Tony Stewart will return to NASCAR Sprint Cup competition on Sunday night at
Atlanta Motor Speedway, ending a three-race hiatus taken after he struck and killed a fellow driver
during a dirt-track race.

The three-time Sprint Cup champion has not raced since his car hit Kevin Ward Jr. at an Aug.
9 sprint car event in upstate New York. Stewart pulled out of the NASCAR race at Watkins Glen the
next morning, then skipped the races at Michigan and Bristol Motor Speedway.

Stewart, who was described by police as “visibly shaken” the night of Ward’s death, has been
in seclusion ever since. Stewart-Haas Racing executive vice president Brett Frood had said the team
was putting no timetable on his return to the No. 14 Chevrolet and the emphasis was on giving
Stewart time needed to get him “in a better place than he is.”

Stewart’s only comment since Ward’s death was a statement the day after the crash in which he
said “there aren’t words to describe the sadness I feel about the accident that took the life of
Kevin Ward Jr.”

Ward had climbed from his car after it had spun while racing for position with Stewart. The
20-year-old walked down onto the racing surface waving his arms in an apparent attempt to confront
Stewart.

Authorities said the first car to pass Ward had to swerve to miss hitting him. The front of
Stewart’s car then appeared to clear Ward, but Ward was struck by the right rear tire and hurtled
through the air. He died of blunt force trauma.

Stewart will return with a decision pending on whether he will be charged in Ward’s death.
Ontario County Sheriff Philip Povero has said investigators did not have any evidence to support
criminal intent by Stewart. Povero said on Thursday the investigation is still ongoing.

Meanwhile, Stewart will move forward with his career and attempt to salvage his season.

NASCAR released a statement on Thursday saying that Stewart was eligible to return because he
“has received all necessary clearances required to return to all racing activities.”

Stewart, who has 48 career Cup victories in 542 starts, is one of the biggest stars in the
garage. His peers have been protective of him as questions emerged in the aftermath of the crash,
and it pained them that Stewart was grieving in private and had cut off communication with many of
them.

NASCAR rules state a driver must attempt to either qualify or race the car in every
points-paying event to be eligible for Chase for the championship, unless a waiver is granted.

Since Ward’s death, NASCAR has announced a rule that prohibits drivers from exiting from a
crashed or disabled vehicle — unless it is on fire — until safety personnel arrive. Last week,
Denny Hamlin crashed while leading at Bristol and stayed in his car until safety personnel arrived.

But Hamlin then exited his vehicle and angrily tossed a safety device at Kevin Harvick as he
passed by moments later. He was not penalized.